Sport Management

Course Information

Program Overview

Sport is more than a game, it's now a multibillion-dollar worldwide industry that has become a crucial element of our economy and culture. Behind the stadium and court lights a complex infrastructure, ranging from agents to journalists to trainers to event managers, works to support and manage that industry. Assumption's new sport management minor helps students prepare to become a vital part of that team.

At Assumption, sport management students receive a solid grounding in economics, business, marketing and management and learn how to deal with the complex professional and ethical issues they will encounter in their field. An emphasis on experiential learning ensures that coursework is augmented with real-world experience through internships and other opportunities.

This new minor is open to all students interested in the area of the business of sport. While of direct appeal to business majors, it can also serves as a useful complement to students studying writing and mass communications who are also interested in the sport media field as well as economics students focusing on sport analytics.

The Assumption Advantage

The Assumption College Advisory Board on Sport Business Education, comprised of national leaders in sport business, consults on curriculum and internship development.

Assumption’s student-run Sports Talk Productions platform includes a sports talk show, website, and other sport-related projects. The group utilizes the College’s DiPasquale Media Center to produce films and other media content.

Students interested in an advanced degree in sport management can earn a BA and an MBA with a Sport Business and Leadership emphasis in just five years at Assumption. The College also offers a Post-baccalaureate Certificate in Sport Business and Leadership.

Minor Requirements

Students who minor in Sport Management are required to complete 7 courses (21 credits)

Degree Requirements

To earn a minor in sport management, students must take 7 business courses (21 credits).

Required Courses:

MGT100 Management and Organizational Behavior

MKT101 Principles of Marketing

ACC 125 Principles of Accounting I

MGT 342 Sport Management

MKT 344 Sports Marketing

Electives

Students must take at least two of the following:

MKT 346 Sport Media and Communication

MGT 350 Professional and Ethical Responsibilities in the Sport Industry

ECO 340 Economics of Sports

ENG 302.01 Special Topics in Journalism: Sports Writing I

ENG 302.02 Special Topics in Journalism: Sports Writing II

BUS 399 Internship in Business

Faculty

In addition to their excellent teaching credentials, the business faculty have extensive experience as practitioners. This blend of the practical and scholarly results in a rich classroom environment where course concepts and theories are integrated with real-world case studies. Our teachers are also mentors and get to know students individually. Faculty advisors assist students with everything from course selection to exploring their career opportunities.

Dr. Cary J. LeBlanc has substantial industry experience, having spent 25+ years in various human resource roles including specialist, manager, director, and consultant. He has worked with a many sized companies, from small start-up entrepreneurial ventures to global Fortune 100 companies. Throughout his work he has been passionate about building organizations that provide employees with the opportunities to maximize their potential. The types of businesses he has been involved cover a wide range of industries, including; plastic products, software and hardware design, pharmaceutical clinical trials, materials research and development and biotech product development.

For his doctoral work Dr. LeBlanc researched the work lives of paper mill workers in Fitchburg, MA. This qualitative study examined job satisfaction that evolved into work as craft for research participants who spent 25 years or more at the same level job. The findings point to the possibility that in any career, worked long enough, might hold deeper satisfaction.

RESEARCH

Teaching Pedagogy – Organizational Citizenship Behavior 2010
Assumption College Honors Program Summer Fellowship. Research topic: An Evaluation of Student-Oriented Organizational Citizenship Behavior in Academia. This research will be conducted in collaboration with James Soldner, Ph.D. and Michelle Barrows, Class of 2011. Assumption College undergraduate students will be surveyed to explore their perspectives on Organizational Citizenship Behavior (OCB) and its implications for improved student performance, overall college experience, as well as identify tools for faculty use in helping students develop positive OCB.

Teaching Pedagogy – Wiki 2009
Expanded previous study with new group of 90 Assumption College undergraduate students in 3 sections of Management and Organizational Behavior. Data analysis to be completed by May 2010.

Teaching Pedagogy – Wiki 2008Effective Use of Web 2.0 Software (wikispaces) as a pedagogical tool to increase student engagement and enhance their learning. Conducted with Michael Lewis, Visiting Assistant Professor, Assumption College. This research was conducted with 90 Assumption College undergraduate students in 3 sections of Principles of Marketing.
Results were presented at the New England Faculty Development Consortium and Improving University Teaching-International.

SERVICE
American Marketing Association (AMA) collegiate chapter Faculty Advisor for Greyhound Association for Marketing Enrichment (GAME). Established this first Assumption College AMA affiliation, and officially recognized by AMA January 2010.

Internships

A distinguished Advisory Board comprised of national leaders in sport business consults on internship development. Organizations associated with our advisors include:

Boston Red Sox

Chicago White Sox, Chicago Bulls and Chicago Blackhawks

Cal Ripken Foundation and the Baltimore Orioles

Comcast Sports

The BASE, Boston

NCAA Division I Men’s Basketball Tournament

Division I and Division II Athletic Departments

“Internship in Business” is a 3-credit seminar course in the Business Studies Department that is available to juniors or seniors. The course provides hands-on experience and training, networking with professionals, and assessment of your personal career strengths and interests. You’ll spend a minimum of 120 hours working in the field. During the faculty-led weekly seminar, students discuss how organizational behavior and management concepts apply to their individual placements

Graduate Study

Students interested in an advanced degree in sports management can earn a BA and an MBA with a Sport Business and Leadership emphasis in just five years at Assumption. The College also offers a Post-baccalaureate Certificate in Sport Business and Leadership

As an Internal Audit intern, I assist with manual audit testing, sampling, audit research and reviewing reports. My involvement in athletics, student government and residential life at Assumption helped me refine my leadership, organization and communication skills to succeed in this internship.

Brigitta Steinbacher

Marketing '17

IDI Business Operations Intern at Unum

I’m working on a 10-week long project to provide a fully electronic experience for new customers from offer letters to eBills. I meet with department heads to ask questions and determine the process. After I gather my information, I will present my recommendations to senior executives.

Mario Pizzieri

Marketing '17

Marketing Intern at MidState Insurance

At MidState I’ve had the opportunity to assist with Facebook, Google +, Twitter and Instagram campaigns to expand social media exposure. I also utilize HubSpot to maintain inbound marketing campaigns with blogs and content offers.

Alan Harrington

Accounting '17

Internship: Audit Intern at Deloitte & Touche LLP

Through my internship I gained insight into both the financial services and commercial industries while working with a variety of clients. I also learned various aspects of the audit practice as well as gained a deeper understanding of legal matters that are intertwined with audits.

Matthew Rivers

Management and Accounting '16

Internship: Internal Audit Intern at The Hanover Insurance Group; Position: IT Auditor at Wolf & Company

My Assumption experience has enabled me to develop my skills and apply them in areas where they are needed within the community. I’ve gained a breadth of experience and knowledge and look forward to translating it into successful opportunities in the future.

During my internship I learned about the public accounting field and was exposed to many different industries. I also learned the accounting rules that apply to these industries in order to successfully audit them.